SOAS University of London

Department of Politics and International Studies

Certificate in Political Studies

2017 Entry requirements

  • The minimum entry requirement is the ability to demonstrate the potential to study at undergraduate level. However, programmes may have their own specific requirements, such as, in the case of language-based studies, a proven ability to learn a language.

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  • Overview
  • Structure
  • Teaching and Learning
  • Fees and funding
  • Apply

Overview

This certificate is a one-year course that is offered by the department to those who are keen to study politics at Masters level, but do not have a first degree in the subject. It is also of interest for those who do not wish to commit three or four years to an undergraduate degree but want to study some introductory courses. It is particularly useful for students who have a first degree in an Africa- or Asia-related subject or language, and who wish to apply that skill to the study of a particular country or region.

Convenors

Structure

Students have to take four undergraduate units from those that are available to full-time undergraduate students, with whom they also attend lectures and tutorials. Course expectations are the same as for full time students (attendance, coursework, essays, annual examinations, etc). Passing the certificate at an upper second class standard is normally deemed to make a student eligible for the taught Master's degrees offered by the Department of Politics and International Studies at SOAS.

Students normally choose TWO introductory units and ONE EACH from the Disciplinary and Regional units. The following is a list of available courses - please note that not every course may be available every year.

Introductory Units
Module Code Unit value Term Availability
Introduction to Political Theory 153400001 1 UnitFull Year
States, people, and power in Asia and Africa 153400056 1 UnitFull Year
Disciplinary Units
Module Code Unit value Term Availability
Comparative political sociology of Asia and Africa 153400067 1 UnitFull Year
Political theory 153400054 1 UnitFull Year
Politics of development 153400042 1 UnitFull Year
Regional Units
Module Code Unit value Term Availability
Government and politics of China 153400071 1 UnitFull Year
Government and politics of the Middle East 153400060 1 UnitFull Year
Government and politics of South Asia 153400020 1 UnitFull Year
Southeast Asian government and politics 153400022 1 UnitFull Year
The state and politics in Africa 153400064 1 UnitFull Year
Taiwan's Politics and International Relations 153400072 1 UnitFull Year

Disclaimer

Teaching and Learning

Teaching & Learning

Classes are taught through lectures, tutorials and seminars. Assessment is by a combination of written examination and essays.

SOAS Library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.

Fees and funding

Apply